High Hopes: A Phillies Podcast - High Hopes Chapter 2: Nick Castellanos Loves Grounding Into Double Plays

Episode Date: September 18, 2023

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Another fact, so jump aboard the B.I.B. Express. Follow and listen to Baseball Isn't Boring, presented by Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. Which I don't know how to word it totally, but I got two statements. I've never seen a player more excited to ground into a double play than Cassianos. Oh, I know. He just can't wait. He can't wait.

He gets right up there, first pitch, right into the ground. Like, this is going to be the dumbest baseball-related thing I've said in the history of this podcast. Wow. Because I say dumb things, but usually baseball, it's like, eh, kind of makes sense. It's fair. Like, I don't understand.

If the ball is tailing in, just don't swing at it. Like, just, I know, you have a millisecond to react and make a swing decision. But just don't. Like, just don't swing at it. I know you have a millisecond to react and make a swing decision, but just don't. Just don't swing at it. It is just going to be drilled into the ground. It's good advice. Just drilled into the ground. It's like, oh,

Castellanos is up. There's runners on first and second one out. Wonder what happens here. Logging in. Oh, ground ball to third base, and here's a double play. Ground ball to shortstop. Yeah. Total bailout it's just like he's so excited

it's always the first pitch oh here I'm going I'm going to do some damage here bang right into the ground again new rule tailing in don't swing that's a good rule

take that advice Kevin Long New rule. Tailing in, don't swing. That's a good rule. How's that? I like it. Yeah. Take that advice, Kevin Long. There you go. There you go. And then the other one is just like, like every time there's two outs,

base is loaded or like Roderick's position. Oh, the JT comes up. I mean, it's three. It's unbelievable. It's 0-2 and then swing strike three. Boom. Like, just again, the clutch gene on JT is lacking, I would say. I mean, again, game one of the World Series is probably the most shocking thing that happened. Like, you look back at it, that home run.

But it's only because no one was on base. That's my theory. You're right. You're right, but still. It's still shocking. I believe he's batting 160th for his scoring position. Is that bad? I believe it's bad.

Is that not what you want? Is that not what you want? Again, I don't know which is more frustrating. JT in a big spot, late in the game, strikeout, or Nick Castellanos eager to ground into a double play. They're both incredibly frustrating. But at the same time,

they're frustrating. But it's like, eh, feels like home. Nick get that home run. No, but it's like the consistency is what I appreciate. Oh, you're saying you appreciate it. Yeah, I appreciate it. You know it's coming. Exactly right.

Unless you're just ready for it. Yes, yes. Like why even, again, I've watched so much Phil's baseball. I just don't really get my hopes up. You ever watch so much that, like, when they do something out of the ordinary, it's shocking to you? Oh, totally. Like, I think that's where especially us, like our listeners, you and I,

where it's like if JT gets a big hit with the bases loaded, it's like, no way. Oh, my God, totally. But when he strikes out, I don't get mad anymore. Oh, it's expected. Anything out of the ordinary, It's like, no way. Oh, my God. Totally. But when he strikes out, I don't get mad anymore. It's expected. Anything out of the ordinary, it's like, oh, it's like them winning 6-1 on Saturday. I was like, what? This doesn't happen. We just get to kick our feet up and relax.

Dude, it was them winning freaking 12 games on the road. Oh, I know. I know. But that wasn't a 13? Did they get to 13? I don't know. It was a lot. It was more than I've ever expected in my entire life.

I forgot about that one. It was so. Again, to the point I don't know. It was a lot. It was more than I've ever expected in my entire life. I forgot about that one. It was so... Again, to the point of forgetting what happened. That was this season. I forgot all about it. Dude, of course. They swept the race. That was hilarious.

They swept the race. All right. Hold on. So two outs of Ron in scoring position. He's batting 192, which is damn near shocking. Late and close, he's batting 203. This is getting better. Late and close, he's batting 203. This is getting better. Late and close.

Ooh, high leverage spots, batting 204. Oh, my God. Low leverage, he's batting 326. Oh! That is hilarious, though. Like, that is just in a nutshell. That is so perfect. Yeah, yeah.

It's something. It's certainly something. But, yeah, they're just uh the the again we talk about it a lot the amount of bits this team has is just out of control it's honestly it's very very very out of control it's actually getting hard to believe that they keep coming up with them um question for you oh speaking of other bits yes have you noticed like so croc had the all-time that was great it was hilarious hilarious but But he's also had a bit of calling home runs. And it's almost always Schwarber, I feel like, too.

I feel like him and Schwarber have a thing going on. I think it's a good feel for Harper, too. He does. You're right. You're right. But I feel like with Schwarber, he's done a couple of them this year. Yeah, for sure. So that's another.

The Kruk, Nostradamus Kruk, is a good one that's developing along the way. We still haven't talked about the biggest news of the weekend. I'm assuming you saw it. A little promotion. Ryan Kirk green to AAA? Why wouldn't they bring him up? In all seriousness, like why? Because I think they want to see how he does with the balls in AAA.

I think so he's the automated strike zone down there maybe they want to see how he does in the strike zone well I mean it's not an automated strike zone in the majors what do we

care I don't I don't know I don't see how he does in in you know against I don't know just bring him up like what are we doing here seems like

you want to see a Ryan Kirk I want to see a guy get out yeah what a crazy thought yeah you know yeah I want to have some confidence when a reliever comes

in the game late in the game. They're going to have almost no sample size if they wanted to try him on the playoff roster. That's what I'm saying. Why wouldn't you have brought him up? Give him a chance. What the hell else are you doing? I wonder if they're... This is a dangerous game.

They've been like... Trying to hide him? No, no, no. They've been so like... And I appreciate it because the mindset of the team, but they've been really... Trying to hide him? No, no, no. They've been so like... And I appreciate it because the mindset of the team, but they've been like really confident all year they're going to make the playoffs. I know, yeah. Had they not made it last year, I'd be like,

can you guys just stop doing this? Stop talking like you're going to make the playoffs. Like make the playoffs. But I wonder if they're willing to clinch. And then so he's not in like... Pressure situation or whatever. Because the playoffs won't be pressure. No, there's no pressure in the playoffs.

Why not find out if he can handle it? No pressure situation. Well, the thing is that if, again, if Belotti or Junior Marte are pitching... Back to Junior, huh? I know. If they're pitching in like leveraged spots, it's probably not the best sign. Agreed. Regardless.

So he's kind of coming up to, like, be a semi-model. He's brought to really keep the game close if they're down by two or one or whatever. Yeah, it's interesting. I was surprised it was just AAA. Maybe they're not going to ring out this year. I mean, at this point, I don't know that they – I mean, like, I wouldn't bet on it. But it just – I don't know why you wouldn't. At least you've got a shot.

See what the guy's got. I assume they know more than. Yeah. But it just, I don't know why you wouldn't. At least you've got a shot. See what the guy's got. I assume they know more than we do. You think so? I would assume that they'd be like, I mean, he's been really good. So I am surprised. But there's got to be something. They're like, eh, I don't know. We'll see what happens.

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As you prep for your draft, let us give you the coverage you need. Follow and listen to Reception Perception on the free Odyssey app or wherever you get your podcasts. All right, take back in a sec. Shout out to the Miller Lite Bar of the Week this week. It's Timothy's in Lionville, our Miller Lite Bar of the Week, Timothy's in Lionville, where you can watch all Phillies games with a $3 Miller Lite pint special.

It's a great deal. Go to mytimothysrestaur restaurants.com show that's miller light we love miller light all right take back frenzy all right i guess i should get up to take back because that usually helps with doing the take back usually this time it's usually a way to do it yeah usually this time yeah um oh obviously first thing to take back uh i'm so freaking happy that it seems like charlie's training in the right direction we should have that's a bad job but yes thank thank you for bringing that yeah like that was devastating i was crushing on on saturday was it or saturday yeah saturday that was devastating

news and then we get the positive update seems like he's doing much better i mean we all love him we need chuck around we just love him like he's just the most wonderful guy, and he is that way. We've gotten to meet Charlie. He seems like everybody's grandpa. He seems like the nice... He's actually that. He actually is that. I know.

I'm sure I've told this before, but Zoe's first game, he sent me a video saying, Zoe, I hope you have such a great time at your first base. He's just a good human being. Yes. And obviously important to us as Phillies fans. Yeah, needs to be have such a great time at your first base. He's just a good human being. Yes. And obviously important to us as Phillies fans.

Yeah, needs to be around for a long time. So I was glad to see Charlie, you know, trending in the right direction, hopefully continues to trend in the right direction and get back on his feet soon. Watching you at High Hopes Night was interesting. Oh, yes, but late on me. I was pretty tired.

I mean, you had to sit down i did but that was very late in the evening for what it's worth all right i was like once you know i was kind of thinning out a little bit yeah i sat down for a few years you're just looking longingly i know at the broadcast i know like i was pretty tired the eagles game the night before yeah well of course thank god it was the longest game of the season. Of course it was. Of course. A 5-4 game in the last three and a half hours. Of course.

I'm so happy. I'm so happy watching Greg Kimbrell walk three straight batters. Like, come on, man. I'm not into the same thing. Come on, man. Yeah. Like, again, if they can just go. There's enough talent in that bullpen.

Absolutely. Just. Throw strikes. Do it. Go on, throw's enough talent in that bullpen. Absolutely. Just throw strikes. Do it. Go on, throw strikes, guys. Again. Yes. No one gives more high-level analysis of the Phillies than us. Our analysis of the Phillies right now is like, just do it.

Figure it out. Hey, don't suck. Hey, don't swing at that pitch. Hey, if it's curving in, don't swing at it. Throw strikes. There we go. That's basically what my pitching coaches told me growing up honestly you know that is what coaching

comes out throw strikes there's nothing worse there's nothing worse or more annoying than you're on the mound struggling and then a pitching coach

comes out thanks dude a pitching coach comes out hey get strike one nailed it oh I'm trying thanks man

believe it or not I was trying to throw a ball but now I'll try and throw a strike so thank you thank you so much for the deep thought I'm just gonna get out man. Believe it or not. I was trying to throw a ball, but now I'll try and throw a swing. So thank you. Thank you so much for the deep thought. I'm just going to get out in front of this one. Oh, good.

That's always a good thing when people are getting out in front of things. Because although they are collapsing in front of our eyes, I have never, I don't think, I don't think I've ever seen the Phillies do well against the type of pitcher Justin Steele is. ever seen the Phillies do well against the type of pitcher Justin Steele is. Oh yeah, the lefty with the slower shot. Like 92.

Oh, never. It's the Tom Eshelman thing. We've talked about this a million times. You know who it is? You know who's ruined? You know where this all started from? They could never hit Jaime Garcia. Sure. They couldn't. You're right. Absolutely. Jaime Garcia owned the Phillies.

And I've just, like, the overpowering lefty, they do all right. It's the 92 with, like, a heavy fastball. I'm sorry to bring the name up, but the John Lannans of the world. Well, I would think I would rather go Lester. Like, Lannan I know by the way former Phil great

um yeah broke out Lee's hand calls him an MVP um like the Justin Steele seven innings

of one run baseball here would break my soul yeah also again this is getting I don't want to be morbid

because they are in a good spot but like if the Marlins happen to come here and win a playoff oh dude I So, again, this is getting, I don't want to be morbid because they are in a good spot. But, like, if the Marlins happen to come here and win a playoff. Oh, dude, I. I don't think I could. They're the team I want to play the least. Easily.

And they're not the best of the team. I just, I want anything to do with it. I could excuse away almost every other team. Yeah, yeah. Losing to the Marlins here would, again, I can't do it. Eagles lose two straight to the Cowboys this year, or the Marlins come in here. I'm not losing the Marlins here.

Nope. The Marlins are not coming here and winning a playoff series. I would rather die than the Marlins coming here and winning a playoff series. Would not. Can't do it. Can't do it. Nope. Won't do it.

Nope.